"Knuckles is a stubborn punk!...But even the best of friends bicker every now and then."
A sunny, warm day at the alter of the Master Emerald. Knuckles stood with a frown and crossed arms as usual. He had a lot to think about when he was alone. Especially new fighting techniques, along with singing, a little rapping, and why he was even forced to guard a giant glowing jewel.
Such a great day and I have to be standing in the direct sunlight with this giant rock…
Knuckles kept thinking to himself until the familiar sound thrilled his ears. A Sonic boom. A sonic boom that shook the ground and made the clouds conform to the moving wind. Even when his friend was out of sight, he still knew he was moving fast. The echidna thought back to their last bicker with remorse; he sighed a deep sigh.
"All I'm just saying is that someday things are going to get out of hand Knuckles!"
"You're just looking for a way to say I'm gullible again!"
"You could say that, but I definitely didn't"
"But you ARE!"
"I didn't, you just did."
That little quarrel lasted with sassy backtalk for over 20 minutes before Tails got scared and told them to knock it off. Why must that blue boy say everything annoying before he actually says anything relevant?
"KNUX! YO KNUX!" The spiky blue hedgehog called to him as he stopped straight in front of his face. Knuckles sighed again.
"Feelin' a little slow Knux!" Sonic said in his usual snarky tone. He paced around the emerald, waiting for a response. There was none. Sonics short attention span led him to wonder if he could balance on top of the large Emerald, and so he tried.
"Don't even THINK about touching that master emerald!" Knuckles snapped. His patience with the speedster had worn rather thin as of late.
"Well you sure didn't say I couldn't! You ought to stop bein' such a recluse Knux! You don't get this many great days in autumn!" The Blue boy tempted. Sonics voice was getting to the guardian now. His fists were clenched tight while he listened to Sonics lightweight footsteps pace around the M.E.
"Look Sonic, I KIND of have a duty to fulfill. I'm pretty sure you've noticed that I'm forced to be here everyday. Come bother me when the world is ending or something!" The guardian ended in a very disciplinary yet respectful tone. He closed his eyes while he stood in front of the emerald. He heard sonic tap his foot, huff, and then speed of with the wind, over the hills and gone.
Why must he be so carefree? Is it his speed? The way he can get away from anything and anyone? Knuckles continued to think to himself, and sulk until the sun's rays turned the skies like the color of a vibrant golden poppy in full bloom.
In a dark, circular laboratory, with blackened walls and the smell of metallic flooring, plans were brewing. The large dome filled with life as computers clicked and beeped. The large man sat in his chair, observing the screens. Along with previous files of Sonic speeding along as he fought the scientist.
"The Master Emerald is the most prized possession of this planet. It is also the most prized possession of Knuckles the echidna. The blue rat won't be defeated unless we use something against him." Eggman began while wringing his hands.
"His speed, sir?" Orbot added in.
"We've used his speed against him before. And look where we've landed! We must use something he holds even closer to defeat our friend the hedgehog."
"You're not thinking to use his friends against him, are you?" The red robot questioned.
"Precisely my friend! Knuckles strength is off the charts according to data collected from previous confrontations. But it is even further off the charts when he is provoked and angered." Eggman almost sang.
"Surely you've thought this through your Excellency…" Cubot raised his voice out of the shadows.
"But I have my dear robot." Eggman chuckled softly as he cracked his own knuckles.
"We must steal the Master Emerald."